CNN LIVE EVENT/SPECIAL

Bush and Fox Begin Joint Cabinet Meeting

Aired September 5, 2001 - 12:33 ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: We are going to go back to Washington, Roger, because President Bush and President Fox have begun their joint cabinet meeting. Let's listen in.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I consider ourselves friends, but our cabinet officials have gotten to know each other on a personal basis. And the dialogue is very important and very frank.

Listen, we've -- our relationship with Mexico is an incredibly important relationship. It's one where's there's a lot of opportunity. And it's a relationship where there's problems. And in order to deal with those problems and take advantage of those opportunities it's important to have a -- discussions at all levels in our government. And this is what we've begun.

Mr. President, I'm so honored you are here. And this is first state visit that I've have had as the president, and I can't think of a better state visit and a better way to culminate the morning, than to have had a frank discussion amongst the able team that you've put together and the able team that I've put together.

I'd be glad to have some of your comments, Mr. President.

PRES. VICENTE FOX, MEXICO: Thank you very much.

I think there's a lot of expectations out of this visit, state visit, to United States. We are very pleased and honored to be here, especially to witness the efforts, the amount of jobs, the amount of work and meetings that have gone through since we last met in Mexico.

It was mentioned here, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) is the correct (UNINTELLIGIBLE). It is of professionalism. It is of frank and open discussions. It is of productivity, this (UNINTELLIGIBLE) which we are leading during the day.

It was mentioned here that today we have, and every day, contact on most of the working teams that are doing this job behind the scene that we're seeing here. So I'm very, very satisfied, which what we have been, have reported today as the work that's been done in the last six months. And there's clear advances on each of the subjects, but more so there's a clear advance on this philosophy of trust that we are building in, that we have built in the process, and that is the foundation of the actions, deliberations, the discussions, and the conclusions and decisions that are being taken all along through the process.

So to us, today, we reaffirm that this friendship, this strong relationship that has been built in -- between Mexico and United States is becoming now very productive. So we make votes that this will come on flowing in this close future and keep advancing on each of subjects that we have discussed.

BUSH: Thank you all very much.

(CROSSTALK)

BUSH: One more -- little Spanish.

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